Justice News

Former Bank Executive Sentenced To 37 Months In Federal Prison For Embezzling From Bank Of America

LUBBOCK, Texas — Donnie Wright, 53, of Lubbock, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 37 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $385,356 in restitution following his guilty plea in February 2013 to one count of bank embezzlement by a bank employee. Judge Cummings ordered that Wright surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on June 20, 2013. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

According to documents filed in the case, Wright was employed by Bank of America in Lubbock, as a Branch Manager at the 5144 82nd Street location. The factual resume states that Wright was a member of the Board of Deacons and Trustee at Community Baptist Church (CBC) in Lubbock. Beginning in May 2006 and continuing to January 24, 2010, Wright used his position as a Bank of America employee to embezzle funds owned by CBC and entrusted to the custody and care of Bank of America. He employed a variety of methods to embezzle the funds, including embezzling from CBC’s Certificates of Deposits held at the bank; making cash withdrawals from CBC’s accounts using debit (withdrawal) tickets; and fraudulently drawing checks on CBC’s checking account.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Lubbock Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda R. Burch prosecuted.